The 2021 Blu-ray extras succeed in painting a complete picture of a film that was initially critically divisive but is now revered as a classic.
The 2021 Blu-ray release of Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye is widely considered the definitive home video presentation of the film. While the 4K UHD restoration garners significant attention for the feature film, the included in this set offers exceptional value through its robust collection of supplemental features.
Here is a comprehensive breakdown of why the 2021 1080p Blu-ray release of The Long Goodbye is an essential addition to any cinephile’s library, with a deep dive into the technical presentation and the historic retrospective extras included on the disc. The Film: Altman's Revisionist Noir
: The legendary cinematographer explains the "flashing" technique used to create the film’s hazy, dream-like 1970s Los Angeles look.
The 2021 Kino Lorber release is the most comprehensive edition available in the US (Region A). It's important to note a few key differences: the long goodbye 1973 extras 1080p bluray 2021
The 1080p extras on the 2021 The Long Goodbye Blu-ray transform this release from a simple movie purchase into an educational archive. The combination of the retrospective documentary and the technical breakdown by Vilmos Zsigmond provides a holistic understanding of Altman’s vision. For cinephiles, this collection represents the gold standard of physical media curation.
: The transfer preserves a consistent, filmic grain structure that resolves naturally, avoiding the "scrubbed" look of heavy digital noise reduction. Audio Performance : The disc features a 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio mono track
Deconstructing a Masterpiece: The Long Goodbye (1973) 1080p Blu-ray (2021) Review
A fascinating technical look at the cinematography. Zsigmond discusses the risky lab techniques used to achieve the post-production look of the film, providing a masterclass for lighting enthusiasts. The 2021 Blu-ray extras succeed in painting a
: A featurette (approx. 14 min) exploring the author's work and legacy. Maxim Jakubowski on Hard-Boiled Fiction
2021 Kino Lorber Studio Classics Blu-ray release of The Long Goodbye
: A crime critic’s rumination on the evolution of the hard-boiled genre.
A discussion on the evolution of the genre and the Marlowe character. Archival Features (Ported from Previous Editions) The Long Goodbye (Special Edition) (Blu-ray) - Kino Lorber Here is a comprehensive breakdown of why the
: An overview of Altman's career and his deconstruction of genres.
This article dives deep into why the release is the ultimate way to experience Altman’s masterpiece.
This edition introduced several exclusive extras not found on previous discs:
In the pantheon of 1970s American cinema, few films are as elusive, cool, and quietly revolutionary as Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye . Based on Raymond Chandler’s classic novel, the film famously transplants detective Philip Marlowe (played with shaggy-dog perfection by Elliott Gould) from the 1940s into the hedonistic, sun-drenched chaos of 1973 Los Angeles. For decades, home video releases ranged from mediocre to outright disastrous. That all changed in 2021 when Kino Lorber (in the US) and Arrow Video (in the UK) released definitive editions. But for collectors and cinephiles, the headline isn’t just the picture quality—it’s the extras .